回到永恒的天家
列王纪下二章1至3节、6至14节
1耶和华要用旋风接以利亚升天的时候，以利亚与以利沙从吉甲前往。
2以利亚对以利沙说：耶和华差我往伯特利去，你可以在这里等候。以利沙说：我指着永生的耶和华，又敢在你面前起誓，我必不离开你。于是二人下到伯特利。
3住伯特利的先知门徒出来见以利沙，对他说：耶和华今日要接你的师傅离开你，你知道不知道？他说：我知道，你们不要作声。
6以利亚对以利沙说：耶和华差遣我往约但河去，你可以在这里等候。以利沙说：我指着永生的耶和华，又敢在你面前起誓，我必不离开你。于是二人一同前往。
7有先知门徒去了五十人，远远地站在他们对面；二人在约但河边站住。
8以利亚将自己的外衣卷起来，用以打水，水就左右分开，二人走干地而过。
9过去之后，以利亚对以利沙说：我未曾被接去离开你，你要我为你做甚么，只管求我。以利沙说：愿感动你的灵加倍地感动我。
10以利亚说：你所求的难得。虽然如此，我被接去离开你的时候，你若看见我，就必得着；不然，必得不着了。
11他们正走着说话，忽有火车火马将二人隔开，以利亚就乘旋风升天去了。
12以利沙看见，就呼叫说：我父啊！我父啊！以色列的战车马兵啊！以后不再见他了。于是以利沙把自己的衣服撕为两片。
13他拾起以利亚身上掉下来的外衣，回去站在约但河边。
14他用以利亚身上掉下来的外衣打水，说：耶和华─以利亚的神在哪里呢？打水之后，水也左右分开，以利沙就过来了。
信息分享
以利亚的经历非常特别，他没有像一般人一样，要通过「死亡」才回到天家。神显然是对以利亚说是回家的时候了，便把他接走。除了以利亚本人外，以利沙和伯特利及耶利哥的众先知也知道神要在这日接走以利亚（3和5节）。
神为甚么要把以利亚接走呢？他岂不需要继续为神工作吗？当时的人仍旧还未跟从神，神干嘛要急着把这个满有能力的先知接走呢？我们必须承认，我们有时很难明白神的道路，只知道这是神的时间要把以利亚接走；而且，神已经安排以利沙接替以利亚。对神而言，没有人是不可取代的。
以利亚被神接走的图画，正是基督再来时，整代基督徒一同被接到天上的最佳写照。那一刻将是如何的惊天动地！不仅是一人被接走，而是千千万万，甚至是亿万人同时被接走。首先是在基督里已死的信徒身体复活，他们的灵魂将会与基督一同从天降临，他们将得着新的身体（帖前四16），而所有这些事将会在同一时间发生。
接着，所有活着的信徒会被提到半空之中，与主相遇。他们的身体将立即改变（帖前四17），因为肉身的躯体不适合进到天堂。他们将换上一个新的身体，乃是永不衰残、存到永远的身体。
那是多么荣耀快乐的一天！倘若基督今天再来，你是否已作好准备，随时被提呢？要是祂今天将你接走，你准备好了吗？如果你还未接受基督作为救主，何不立即作出决定呢？
HOME FOR EVERMORE
2 Kings 2:1-3 and 6-14
1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
Message
When a believer in Christ is called away, he or she goes "Home for evermore". That must be a wonderful experience. For those who are left behind, there is great comfort in knowing we will see our loved ones again. The doorway we call "death" will one day open for each of us too and we will be with Christ forever.
Elijah had a different experience. It was unusual in so many ways. It is obvious that God told Elijah it was time to come home. But God also told Elisha and the prophets at both Bethel and Jericho that this was the day of Elijah's departure (vv.3 , 5).
Why was God calling Elijah away? Wasn't he needed? The people were still not following the Lord as they should. Yet God was taking home the most powerful and prominent prophet of that time. It is not always easy to understand God's ways. We can only say it was God's time for Elijah, and God had Elisha ready to replace him. No one is indispensable.
This is one of the best illustrations in the Bible of what is going to happen to a whole generation of Christians when Christ comes the second time. What a moment that will be! Instead of one man being taken, thousands and thousands, even millions will go. First there will be the Resurrection of the bodies of believers. Their souls will come from heaven with Christ and a new body will come from earth for each of them (1 Th 4:16). It will be instantaneous.
Then there will be instant rapture for those believers alive, when Christ comes. Even as they are caught up, their bodies will be instantly changed (1 Th 4:17). These earthly bodies would not suit the environment of heaven. They will be changed so that they will last for eternity.
What a day that will be! Would you be ready if Christ should come today? If he should call you today? Are you ready? If you have never accepted Christ, why not do it now?